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Hundreds of grocery workers and supporters march and rally to demand a conclusion to their long-running attempt to get a contract with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda/ Southern California News Group)

Some 50,000 Southern California grocery workers will walk into union offices on Monday to cast their vote on a tentative agreement that, if approved, would avoid another devastating strike.

After intense round-the-clock negotiations this week, union workers and the three major supermarket chains – Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons – have agreed on terms for a new contract, which includes wage increases and affordable health care for supermarket workers, Ralphs spokeswoman Kendra Doyel said in a statement to Southern California News Group.

“We are able to give our associates pay increases, keep their health care very affordable, and a stable pension,” Doyel said. She said she could not reveal any more specifics.

A 2003-04 grocery strike and lockout altered the region’s supermarket climate. The strike lasted four months and cost the grocery chains an estimated $1.5 billion.

Greg Conger, president of Local 324, also declined to reveal the details of the new contract. Conger’s union represents roughly 10,000 grocery workers in Orange County.

He said reaching a tentative agreement is significant as no one at the negotiating table “asked for a strike,” he said.

Negotiations with the three major grocery chains have been ongoing since the union contract expired March 6. Up until this week, the union and supermarket chains had not come to any agreement. That led union workers to vote in late June to authorize a strike, if necessary.

At issue are wages and health care benefits.

In June, the supermarkets were offering union workers a 10-cent per hour wage increase through 2018 and bonuses of 10-15 cents an hour and 15 cents an hour during that time. The stores said they would not fund health care beyond current levels, meaning that employees would have to contribute more or sacrifice coverage.

The supermarkets had also said they would not fund pensions at levels the unions are seeking and want to change the retirement age to 65 from 60.

On Monday, grocery workers will find out the terms of the new contract.

Conger said polls will be open all day Monday, starting at 8 a.m. Final results will likely be announced Tuesday. Though, he said by late Monday “we’ll have a good feeling as the day goes on” how the vote is going.

Stater Bros., whose contract also is expired, will adopt whatever pension and healthcare benefits are agreed upon with the three chains, Conger said. However, all other benefits, including wages, are negotiated separately, he said.

Nancy Luna is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. She's been the Register's restaurant beat writer since 2005, covering some of the biggest players in the industry: In-N-Out, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Luna also covers dining trends from food halls to food trucks. She writes with authority and is considered an expert in her field.